Waterloo regional councillor proposes pause on speed camera program expansion

One week after Premier Doug Ford promised to ban speed cameras, local councillors weigh in. CTV’s Colton Wiens reports.

As the future of speed camera programs in Ontario remains uncertain, a Region of Waterloo councillor wants to put the brakes on plans to expand the initiative locally.

Five new speed cameras went online last week and there are plans for six more cameras to be operational by Oct. 8.

However, before those new cameras are up and running, regional councillor Colleen James plans to put forward a notice of motion during the Administration and Finance meeting on Tuesday to stop the planned installation of new cameras.

“There’s no legislation that is tabled right now,” James said. “We’ll keep [the program] as it is. But you know what? We can commit to not expanding the program until we see that legislation and what it looks like.”

Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban the use of municipal speed cameras across the province.

Ford’s recent stance is a far cry from his government’s views in 2019 when a law was passed that allowed municipalities to install the cameras.

James’ motion proposes a pause on expansion until the region can get a better idea of what the provincial government has in store.

“We’re not going to expand at this point. That’s what the motion says,” James said. “Let’s do with what we have until we have that [provincial] legislation.”

If passed, James’ motion would allow current speed cameras to keep operating, but there would be a freeze on installing cameras or hiring new staff.

She said she doesn’t think there’s a point in cancelling the program now, but she believes it could be the time to make adjustments.

“There’s an opportunity to revise the policy, edit the policy to make it more current to reflect what people are asking for,” she explained. “Not necessarily cancel the whole thing, but to maybe provide some parameters around time-of-day, fines, thresholds. It’s an opportunity to create some balance. At the end of the day, it is about public safety.”

How effective has the speed camera program been?

The Region of Waterloo adopted a municipal speed camera program in 2021.

Recently, a publication from the region suggested the presence of the cameras was working to slow down drivers. The Region said average speeds in school zones where the cameras have been installed have dropped by 15 km/h since February.

“I’m driving through [and] I’m seeing people slowing down. So [the cameras] have an impact,” James said. “It’s a tool, one of many tools. We have speed bumps. We can also have flashing lights. I don’t think we need to cancel one thing over the other.”

Some councillors have previously suggested cancelling the program altogether.

“I’m going to listen to the rest of my colleagues,” regional councillor Doug Craig said. Craig told CTV News he has previously suggested a full cancellation of the initiative during discussions with his fellow councillors. “I think we have to work together as a team on this. Both Colleen and I have different ideas, but I think we can coalesce and come together.”

Craig said if the provincial government scraps the program, he wants to see a plan for replacement safety measures.

“It’s the fact that the provincial government authorized speed cameras. Now they’re taking them away. Now they’re leaving us with the bill, and now we still have a speeding problem. What I want to see happen is for us to start moving on with alternative plans to deal with the speeding in the community,” Craig said.

The committee meeting is scheduled of Tuesday. If the motion passes, it would still need to go before regional council for full approval.